In Year 11 Visual Arts, students explore how artists use traditional and contemporary techniques to communicate important concepts. You’ll look at how art connects to local and global issues, personal stories and different points of view.

Students will study three main units throughout the year, focusing on building your skill base whilst giving you room to explore your own interests and ideas. 

You’ll also start developing your own Collection of Work using a mix of materials and techniques. These might include:

• Drawing (pencil, pastel, charcoal, mixed media)

• Painting (acrylic, oil, watercolour)

• Pottery and ceramics

• Digital photography

• Printmaking (lino, etching)

• Sculpture or installation art

This course gives you the freedom to be creative while building strong skills in artmaking and critical thinking.

Students create a Body of Work exploring a concept developed based on their own interests and ideas, in collaboration with their teacher. We encourage students to choose a concept which interests them and utilise materials they have shown skills in, developing a knowledge of mediums and related techniques. 

In Art Criticism and Art History, students study five case studies which explore the work of both Australian and international artists. Short and extended response answers are developed to build student's skills in interpreting and understanding art. 

School-Based Assessment:

• Creation of a Body of Work

• Use of a Visual Arts Process Diary to plan, research and reflect on artworks and artistic process

• Written work exploring and analysing the work of selected artists, artworks and audiences.

External Assessment: 

• HSC Examination: 1.5 hours - 50%

• Body of Work - 50%

There are a range of transferable skills as part of this course. These skills may be relevant across numerous employment pathways and include visual literacy and composition, Creative thinking and problem solving, project development and independent work, visual analysis and critical writing, collaboration and communication, cultural awareness and conceptual thinking.